By Cara Beth Lewis
EMS Director, David Howell, shared information with BladenOnline regarding the administration of Naloxone (Narcan), a medicine that reverses the overdose of opioids. These Narcan statistics are only from Bladen County Emergency Medical Services and do not include any local law enforcement’s use of Narcan.
According to Howell’s data, from January through June, Narcan administrations in 2021 have surpassed the number of administrations in 2020. The highest increase is for the month of March, having a 125% increase.
According to fda.gov, “In the wake of the opioid epidemic, efforts are underway to make this emergency treatment more readily available and more accessible.”
The FDA’s website states, everyone who overdoses with opioids, whether it is with a prescribed medicine or an illicit drug, needs naloxone. Examples of opioids include heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine. Because overdoses can happen anywhere, naloxone is designed to be used by anyone, even a bystander. That’s one of many reasons the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working to help increase access to naloxone in case of such an emergency.
“With naloxone, anyone can help save the life of someone who’s having an opioid overdose,” said Dr. Douglas C. Throckmorton, MD, Deputy Director for Regulatory Programs at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “We want everyone who may witness an opioid overdose – family members, friends, neighbors, and others close to people who use opioids – to have access to naloxone and to feel confident using it during an emergency. Without naloxone, the risk of an overdose being fatal is significant.”
More information on Naloxone is available at: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/information-about-naloxone.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Hotline:
1-800-662-4357
BladenOnline will provide updates regarding Narcan usage in Bladen County monthly.
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